If you’re a weirdo like me and kept track of the Rumsfeld briefings when the Iraq invasion was underway, you might find this surprising. It’s nice to be able to easily show the doublespeak of the bush administration - it’s the first time I’ve seen Rumsfeld flustered around the press.

It’s easy to see why he was featured so prominently to the press by the administration during the war - Rumsfeld has a knack for playing down the importance of a question and quickly turning its intent to something he’d rather talk about, all the while maintaining an air of transparency, and often joviality (Bush can only dream…). He’s also been more effective than Bush or Powell at backstepping on the actual threat to the world presented by Hussain’s (when did the world get to be on a first name basis with Saddam?) government, focusing on internal humanitarian issues.

The problem with this line of defense is that this places the administration in the light of wanting to stop inhuman treatment globally. Which begs the question…where next? And why not acknowledge, if not take action with, the many other governments and ruling military actively engaged in murder, rape, and torture? Note that these are just events from the past 30 days.

As in the same vein as the previous non-entries (still working out little bugs in the code), here is a little something interesting floating around the web…

It’s a quick and interesting way of folding laundry - check it out, there are even timed tests between this and traditional folding…

The explosion in the train near Atocha Station (the second one) woke me up. The house where I live is next to the rail. My bed and all the building moved and a huge sound was heard. Then, I turned on the TV and the radio to try to find out what was happening. A burnt-plastic smell and an opaque cloud entered in my house when I opened the window, which is at the other side of the building. I committed the big error to go down to the street and I saw a train with six wagons and three big holes. People walking down the rails and other lying down on the ground. Pieces of the train in the street and dead people trapped in the twisted irons
Fernando, Madrid, Spain

It was 7:40 a.m. when the train from Getafe arrived at Atocha train station. As the doors opened, the first bomb exploded in a different train and platform. The train I was in, which I guess was some 50 to 75 m from the bomb, was shaken. People got off quickly but still I feel we all kept calm. It was only 1 minute later that 2 more bombs exploded in rapid succession. It was at this point that people rushed out of the station. People crying. It was a shocking image. To be honest, I didn’t stay any longer to see what happened.
Francisco Torres, Madrid - Spain

http://www.iberiannotes.blogspot.com

zefrank - Red Alert

Something for the people who appreciate the style of Christopher Guest (This is Spinal Tap, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind) and Jon Stewart…..

It’s nearly spring in austin, which means it’s prime time for bands to swing into town for concerts (er, sounds like the writing of a bad columnist…oh well). Caught Dexter Freebish this past weekend - lots of fun, but the promising spark they had when an indie band has pretty much been dulled out into the usual mainstream standard sound. Disappointing, but not surprising - happily, there are quite a few great people coming by…

• March 12-21 - SXSW04
  Needs no introduction.
• March 17 - Modest Mouse
  Check out the review, says it all.
• March 28 - Keiko Matsui
  Really pleasant and interesting jazz. A few albums are available at the usual place, you’ll just have to listen for a while before getting a good feel for her style.
• March 31 - Vienna Teng
  Thoughtful, intelligent lyrics with well played instrumentals. Check out the link to NPR’s Weekend Edition interview with her (she’s been on NPR more than once, just do a search).
• April 2 - Air
  This one should be interesting, I’m not sure how they’re going to do a concert, but I’ll be finding out. The guys have done the Virgin Suicides soundtrack and have a track on the Lost in Translation soundtrack (fun to listen to, btw) along with their main releases.
• April 25 - Itzhak Perlman
  Also needs no introduction, I hope.

Can’t wait.